Talk:SN2 reaction

Latest comment: 6 years ago by DMacks in topic Example

Shouldn't Sn2 be bimolecular nucleophilic substitution second order?

yes. this SN2 reaction must be of bimolecular nucleophiclic substituion second order reaction.

Incorrect, as mentioned below, although there are 2 reactants they both arent nececerily both first order, so the overall reaction order could be greater or less than 2. Obikirk (talk) 21:12, 12 November 2009 (UTC)Reply

Sn2 not necessarily second order edit

Sn2 has a bimolcular rate determining step, however this does not mean that Sn2 is always second order. For example the hydrolysis of TBC has Sn2 mechanism but is actually first order- water is of zero order and TBC is of first order so overall, reaction is first order. Chartice 22:15, 12 May 2007 (UTC)Reply

Sn2' edit

Does someone want to be nice and write a section on Sn2' reactions so that I don't have to?

Currently we only have a brief mention at Nucleophilic_substitution#Other_mechanisms. We would love for you to write such a piece on SN2' reactions! :) Walkerma (talk) 13:48, 15 April 2008 (UTC)Reply

Steric Hinderance edit

I think this section could do with a picture to clarify what it is trying to communicate. Does anyone know of a suitble example? Obikirk (talk) 18:42, 26 November 2009 (UTC)Reply

Heck, it only discusses sterics of the nucleophile, not the substrate at the leaving-group site (though it is mentioned in the "Reaction mechanism" section). But then the mechanism section doesn't include an electron-flow ("arrow-pushing") mechanism! Perhaps we could take the reactants of the "Reaction mechanism" diagram (i.e., aligned properly for the reaction) and use "R" groups on the nucleophile and on the electrophilic substrate. Then could simply explain "if R on the nucleophile or any of the R on the substrate near the leaving group are large, they prevent the two components from getting close enough to react efficiently." DMacks (talk) 19:01, 26 November 2009 (UTC)Reply

Example edit

Can someone explain how the reaction product of CH3SH with CH3I is a compound with S having three bonds? Simon de Danser (talk) 05:24, 20 April 2017 (UTC)Reply

@SimonDeDanser: What is the actual structure of the product you are considering (is it trimethylsulfonium)? What is your actual concern about this reaction or product (How does it occur? Ehy does it happen? How can S have 3 bonds? etc)? DMacks (talk) 05:36, 20 April 2017 (UTC)Reply
I was refering to the ball&stick model example in the article, depicting the the SN2 reaction of dimethyl sulfide, CH3SH with methanethiol, CH3I (the model at the bottom).
Simon de Danser (talk) 06:20, 13 May 2017 (UTC)Reply
Never mind: I did not look good enough.... :(
Simon de Danser (talk) —Preceding undated comment added 06:22, 13 May 2017 (UTC)Reply
No worries:) DMacks (talk) 06:40, 13 May 2017 (UTC)Reply